Conrad Dubai

Opened in 2013, the Conrad Dubai, a two-minute walk to Dubai’s World Trade Centre, is a luxury business hotel that doubles as nightlife central for hardworking, hard-partying Dubai expats who flock to its bars and restaurants. Especially popular is Izel, a Latin-themed dinner-dance club with imported South American live bands, whole roast lambs, replica Maya and Incan statuary, fire pits, and a walk-in Cuban cigar closet. The Conrad’s location by the World Trade Centre Dubai metro stop provides easy access to the Dubai International Financial Centre farther up Sheikh Zayed Road. Guestrooms incorporate Arab design touches such mashrabiya-latticed headboards, and all include Nespresso machines for urgent caffeine infusions after late nights. Deluxe suites have separate living rooms and Bose surround-sound systems—an ideal setup for hosting a small private party. An excellent range of fitness facilities including an outdoor yoga pavilion help guests regain internal balance.

The Conrad Dubai sits opposite the Dubai World Trade Centre metro stop; guests and conference visitors can walk through an air-conditioned corridor to the hotel entrance, an advantage in sweltering summer weather and guaranteeing a steady stream of traffic to hotel dining outlets. A short metro ride up the skyscraper-lined Sheikh Zayed Road, the emirate’s main business artery, lie the Dubai International Financial Centre (a nexus of art galleries and restaurants), as well as the Burj Khalifa (currently the world’s tallest building) and Dubai Mall (one of the world’s largest).

Need to Know

Rooms: 555 rooms; from $153 (562 AED). Check-in: 2 p.m.; check-out: noon.Dining options: In addition to the wildly popular Izel South American concept restaurant, there’s Cave, a cozy wine bar with lounging beds with pashminas and fireside armchairs for horizontal winetastings, while the Marco Pierre White Grill offers some of the best steaks in the emirate to an accompaniment of live piano music. Ballarò mixes international cuisines for the hotel breakfast and lunch buffets. Hotel guests have access to the members-by-invitation–only Suga cocktail club often booked by Dubai public relations agencies for product launches.Gym and spa details: The hotel has an extensive gym and spa with Middle Eastern hammam and occasional complimentary yoga classes. The 5,500-square-meter sixth-floor landscaped outdoor pool area is run as a lounge club with a DJ by the Spanish group PuroBeach.

Insider Tips

Who’s it for: Business travelers who want to kick back in the evenings with good food, drinks, and a local crowd.Our favorite rooms: King Deluxe corner rooms on floors 24 to 35 take best advantage of the angular skyscraper’s Persian Gulf and city skyline views. Some Executive Rooms also have corner views and are worth the extra cost for access to the 24-floor Executive Lounge breakfast buffet and amenities.Weeknight buffet: If it’s a tough decision between Australian Condabri, A-5 grade Kobe Wagyu, or grass-fed U.S. Angus beef, go to the Marco Pierre White Grill Tuesday night steak buffet, which serves everything for a bargain single entrance fee.